Controlling device



Feb. 20, 1923.

LA. MAFEL.

CONTROLLING DEVICE.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 24 FILED MAY 5.1919.

.Invafinr.

- Lpwis' .51 Ma 51 DIILE: E

Patented Feb. 20, 1923. I I I I y UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS A. MAPEL, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO 'AU'IO IMLA'IJICvAPPLIANCE COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI., I

CONTROLLING DEVICE. v Application filed May 5, 1919. Serial No. 294,957.

To allwltom itmag concern; which the timing mechanism controls the Be itknown that I, LEWIS A. MAPE a controlling device. fcitizen of the UnitedStates. residin at the Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating the ar-. 55,ycity-of St. Louis'and State of i issouri, rangement of the wiring andthe switch have invented a new and useful Controlling device. 7 Device,of which the following is a speci- Figs. 7. 8 and 9 are detail viewsillusfication. trating a tvpe of switch mechanism which This inventionrelates to Controlling deis adapted especially for use in circuits of 60vices'for the automatic, control of machines high current. 10 which areindependently equipped with elec- The housing in which the. mechanism istrical apparatus. mounted is composed of a front portion 1. An object ofmy invention is to provide havinga dial 2 in connectiontherewith;'an acontrolling device for the purpose menintermediate portion 3'supportingthe tuntioned, which is of novel and efficient coning device 4; and arear or base portion 5 struction and is positive and accurate insupporting some of the essential parts'of operation. the controllingdevice which are caused to Another object is'to provide a' controllingfunction by operation of the timing device 1 device of theicharacter andfor the purpose 4. The main spring arbor or shaft 6' of the 70 I Istated, equipped with novel means for varytiming device extends throughthe dial ing the interval that the controlled maplate 2 and is equippedwith an indicator I chine or device remains operative or inor pointer '7which cooperates with the dial operative. to indicate the-periodsorintervals of time Another object is to provide a controlling that maypass from any of the set or ad- 75 device capable of controlling theoperative 'justed positions of the timing device beor inoperativecondition of a plurality of fore. the controlling mechanism or devicedevices with which the machine is equipped. will be affected .thereby.The main spring An additional object is to provide a con- 6 inconnection with the shaft 6 is artrolling device equipped with a timeindiranged to be energized as an incident to 80 cator and means undercontrol of the time the setting. of the timing mechanism for indicatorfor causing the controlling deoperation for any selected intervaloftime, vices to functionafter any desired intervals and to operate thetiming mechanism until or periods of time. the same is stopped at theend of thetime Another object is to provide a controlinterval for whichit is set. A knob 8 is ling device equipped with'a time indicatorloosely mounted on the outer end of the and means under control of thetime indiarbor 6 and is movable into and out of cator for causing thecontrolling device to clutching engagement with the hub of the functionat any desired time, and manual pointer 7, so that, said knob is capableof means for causing the controlling device to manipulation to engagewith and turn the 'function in the absence of the time indiarbor 6 inone direction to adjust the point- 4o cator. er '7 at any desired placearound the dial, Other objects of the invention will apsaid knob beingfree to turn in the opposite pear from the following description indirection. independentlyof said arbor and which reference is made to thedrawing pointer. illustrating a preferred embodiment of the The deviceis. equipped with means for 45 invention, and in which indicating theprocess or operations repre- Fig; l is a front elevation of acontrolling sented by various periods. In the embodidevice embodying mypresent invention. ment shown the indicating means comprises Fig.2 is ,aside elevation. indicators 9 and 10 in the form of discs Fig. 3 is avertical sectional view. supported by projecting portions of the 50 Fig.4 is a view of thedevice. with the housing. Each of the dlscs isprovided front face or dial plate removed. with several distinctivemeans of indica- Fig 5 is a view showing the means by tion; forinstance, the disc 9 is provided with a number of letters A, B C and D,and the disc is'provided with a number p of numerals as 1, 2, 3 and 4.Upon a porill chine in connection or association with" which theinvention is being used.-

Assuming that the device is being used in connection with a laundrywashing machine, theindicator 9 will be set in position toplacetheletter A thereon opposite the window in the housing when thestep in the,

washing operation' designated as process 1 A is being performed by themachine.

a The indicator ill willbe set in such a position that the numeral l isexposed to view when the first step in the washing process is beingperformed. Should the first step Oftllt) process A. require any definiteperiod of time the operator will set the pointer Z of the time indicatorat the pointon the dial designating the number of minutes required forsuch operation and when the pointer turns in an anticlockwise directionto zero on the dial, the controlling device will be operated and theoperator in charge of the machine will be notified that the first stepin the process A has been completed. ill the process A includes orrequires another step the operator sets the indicator 10 in suchposition that the numoral 2 thereon will be exposed to View through theopening or window and also sets the pointerof the time indicator at theproper place on the dial representing the period or interval reired bythe second step of the proce'ss. this arrangement the operator in chargeof the device may at all times be kept'intormed concerning what work orprocess is being performed by the machine in connection or associationwith which the device is used. The present invention is designed espe.cially for use in connection or association with machines which areindependently equipped with electric apparatus. The invention comprisesnovel mechanism for controlling the operation of the electric apparatusof the machine in connection with which theinvention is used;

The base 5 of the housingxis provided with a portion Hadapted tobe'connected with a lamp signal 11 which will operate as a signal, ashereinafter explained.

The housing is formed with a number of conduit outlets for connectionwith wire conduits leading to different mechanisms. For instance, theconduit outlet 12 atfords outlet for the wiring leading to the. motorwhich operates the washing machine; the outlet 13 afiords outlet for thewiring for spectively,

controlling the electric drain valve oi the washing machine; and theoutlet 14: affords outlet for the wiring for controlling a signal orother desired cooperative mechanism. At this point it may be appropriateto mention that the "wiringpassing through the 'outletld may be incircuit with an appropriate s gnal mechanism such, for instance.

as that disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 244,753,eventuating in Patent No. 1,388,278., dated August 23, 1921.

The switch mechanism and the binding posts and connections are supportedwholly by the base section 5 of the housing in which a support 15 ofinsulating material is mounted. The binding posts, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20and 21 are connected with corresponding contacts 1b. 17?, 18, 19 20 and21, re-

which are in position to make contact with a switch member 22 asrequired in the operation of the various apparatus or'machinescontrolled through the switch.

The switch member 22 is on a rotary support 23 having a crank 24 inconnection therewith whereby the switch may be controlled by the timingmechanism, or manually operated in the absence of the timing mechanism.

The instrument is equipped with a control lever 25 attached to a rod orshaft 26 revolubly supported near the bottom of the device and whichconstitutes means for nianuall controlling the difl'erent apparatus withwhich the washer (or other machine) is equipped in order to handle theoperation thereof automatically. The inner end of the rod or shaft 26 isjournaled in a support 27 which also constitutes an abutment andattachment for the inner end of a spring 28, of the expansion type. Theouter end of the s ring. is connected to a cam member 29 .w ich isattached to the shaft 26.

The power oi" the spring 28 is exerted to turn the rod or shaft 26 in acounter-clockwise direction and also to actuate said rod or shaftaxially in an outward direction. A lei/c1180 ispivoted upon a support 31and is actuatedin one direction by a spring 32 connecting said leverwith a rigid part in the housing. The lever 30 extends into the path ofmovement of an arm 33 attached to the arbor 6 of the timing mechanism,so that at the proper time the lever 30 will be moved a slight distanceby said arm 33 in order to disengage the opposite end of the lever froma shoulder on the cam 29.

Extent of turning movement of the con-.

trol' lever 25 in one direction is limited by a shoulder 34 on the cammember 29 contacting with the detent end of the lever 30. and extent ofturning movement of said lever in the opposite direction is limited byan abutment 35 on the housing. The normal idle position of the controllever is that power of the spring 28.

.which. a shoulder shown in Fig. 1 in which the lever 30 engages the camshoulder 34 to which .position the control lever is actuatedby the Whensaid lever 25 is manually turned to position against the abutme'nt35 the.detent end of thelever. Fig. 5) on the,

time duration when thelever 30 is auto matically released from theshoulder 36 by the arm33, thus permitting the spring 28 to turn the rodor shaft 26 to position in gage'd'by the detent end of the lever 30. Bythis operation of the rod 26 the switch member 22 is moved to contactwith the contact members 17", 19 and 20, thus instantaneously breakingand re-establishing the circuit to the motor. and closing the circuitto'the drain valve of the washingmachine. The pressureof the arm 33against the lever 30 is continued by theoperation of'the timingmechanism after said lever 30 has been releasedfromthe first shoulder 36and whilethe second shoulder 37 is engaged by the end of the lever 30,-The switch remains in its second adjustment until thefinal expirationof"the-time duration after which the lever 30 is'released 1 from theshoulder 37 by the continuing pressure of the arm 33 actuated by thetiming mechanism. Thereupon the spring'28 turns the rod 26 to positionto actuate the switch 22 into contact with the contact members 18, 20,and 21, circuit to the signal mechanism in order to call theattention-of the operator to the fact that one operation, or step of anoperation has been completed. Turning of the rod or shaft 26' is stoppedby contact ofthe .shoulder38 on the, cam with the detent end of thelever 30.' The operation of the timing mechanism is stopped by. the arm33 in contact with the lever 30 which is held from further movement bythe stop 39.

By. pressure on the hub of the control lever the rod 26 may be pressedinwardly in opposition to the power ofthe spring 28, and the shoulder 38thereby disengaged from the detent end of the lever 30. thus permittingsaid spring 28 to turn the rod 26 an additional distance until the camshoulder 34 is moved into contact with the detent end of the lever 30.In this position the switch 22 occupies the position shown in Fig. 6 inwhich it is out of contact with all of the contact members.

It is necessary to adjust the timing device beforefthe latch for thecontrol lever 25 will be able to hold the lever in its adarm 33 holdsthe lever 37 on the cam 29 is en-' thus closing the justed position.This is true. because when the tim1ng device is in its idle or.stoppedposition the arm' 33 holds the lever 30 in position to preventengagement of the de- In the I tent end thereof with the shoulder 36 onthe cam 29, as shownin Fig. 5. idle or stopped position of the devicethe shown in Fig. 5 so that the shoulder 36 will not engagethe'detentend of said lever 30, but in saidiposition of the lever 30 thenot contact with'said lever shoulder 36 ca The switch shown inFigs. 7, 8and 9 may be satisfactorily used in connection with circuits .of eitherhigh or low current, whereas the switch shown in Fig. 6is moreparticularly adapted'for usein circuitsof low current. I Figs. 7, 8 and9 a 'member 40 is pivoted upon a binding post'4l. The switch member 42is also pivoted 30 in the position In the switch shown in said 1 I uponthe binding post 41 and is'movable into and out of con- I tact with thecontact members 43' and 44.

in order toopen and-close the circuits by which the different devices ofthe machine} are'controlled. The switch member 42 being pivoted upon thebinding :post 41 is permanently in circuit with one of the wires, and Itis onlynecessary to'move the switch member 42 into contact with thecontact members 43 and 44, .respectivelyiinordert-o close the circuits.V

A spring 45 connects an'extensiou 46 on the s *it'ch member 42 withthemember 40 and is operative to throw the switch member 42 out ofcontact-with the contact members '43 and 44, respectively, as anincident to turning of the member 40 from one position to another.Movement of the switch member 42 in one direction is limited by an arm47 thereon contacting with the member 40. The member 40. has a pin 48adapted to extend into a slot in the crank arm 0n the lower end of therod or shaft 26. so

that said member40. may be swung from i one said rod 26.

In the normal or idle position of the rod 26 the 'switch'member 42 isheld out of contact with both contact members '43 and 44.

position to another by operation of AS an incident to turning of, thecontrol leabutment 35, the switch member 42 is thrown around bythespring 45 to the position shown in Fig.- member is in contact withthe contact member 44 and bears against an abutment 49.

The control lever remains inthat. adjust-' 7, in which said switch verfto the right to its position against the tion in which the shoulder 38is engaged by the detent end of the lever 30 as an incident to whichoperation the switch member 42 is thrown out of contactwith the contactmember 4A- and into contact with the contact member 4:3, thusinstantaneously breaking the circuit to the motor and establishinganother circuit which leads to the signal mech anism, in order to callthe attention of the operator to the fact when one operation,or step ofan operation has been completed The switch remains in its secondadjustment and maintains contact with the contact member 43 until therod 26 is pressed inwardly to disengage the detent from the cam 29, thuspermitting the spring 28 to turn the rod 26 an additional distancesuflicient to cause the member 40. tomove the switch member &2 out ofcontact with the contact member 43, and to the position shown by dottedlines in Fig. 8.

The form and arrangement of the diiierent parts and elements comprisingthe invention may be varied without departing from the principle orscope of the invention. 1 do not confine myself to unessential features,but whatl claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A controlling device of the character described, comprising timingmechanism settable in different positions to represent diil'erentperiods or intervals of time, an electric switch operable to open and toclose a plurality of electric circuits, a latch for latching the switchin position to close one of the circuits, an element operated by thetiming mechanism for releasing said latch and preventing the latch fromlatching the switch until setting of the timing mechanism, and anactuator for moving the switch to position to open the first-namedcircuit and to position to close another circuit.

2. A controlling device of the character described, comprising timingmechanism settable in different positions to represent different periodsor intervals of time, a plurality of electric contact members in'corresponding circuits, an electric switch movable into and out ofcontact with various ones of the contact members to open and to close aplurality of electric circuits successively, a

latch for latching the switch in position to close predetermined ones ofthe circuits, an element operated by the timing mechanism for releasingsaid latch successively and pore venting the latch. from latching theswitch until setting of the timing mechanism, and an actuator for movingthe switch when said latch is released.

3. A controlling device of the character described, comprising timingmechanism settable to operate for different periods or intervals oftime, an electric switch operable to open and to close a plurality ofelectric circuits, an actuator for moving the switch eat er from oneposition to another to open and to close the electric circuitssuccessively, a latch for latching the switch in its'diii'erentpositions and preventing the latch from latching the switch untilsetting of the timing mechanism, and an element operated by the timingmechanism for releasing said latch. f t

4. A controlling device of the character described, comprising anelectric switch, a rod supported for axial and turning movements, meansfor operating the switch by the turning movements of said rod, alatchde-- vice for holding the rod in the different positions to which it isturned, a settable device preventing operation of said latch until saiddevice has been set and an actuator for turnin said rod in one;direction and moving sald rod axiall c 5. A controlling device of thecharacter described, comprising an electric switch, a rod supported foraxial and turning movements. a latch device for holding the rod in thedifferent positions to which it is turned when said rod is on one of itsaxial positions. a settable device preventing operation of said latchuntil said device has been set and means for moving the rod axially toposition in which it will be held by said latch device and for turningsaid rod in one direction when said latch device is released.

6. A cont-rolling device or the character described, comprising anelectric switch, a rod supported for axial and turning movements, alatch device for holding the rod in the different positions to which itis turned when when said rod is in one of its axial adjustments, asettable device preventing operation of said latch u'ntil said devicehas been set, means for operating the switch by the turning movements ofsaid rod, and an actuator for moving said rod axially to position inwhich said rod will be held bysaid latch device and for turning said rodin one direction when said latch device is released.

7. A controlling device of the character described. comprising anelectric switch, a rod supported for axial and turning movements, alatch device for holding the rod in the different positions to which itis turned when said rod is in one of its axial adjustments, a settabledevice preventing operation of said latch until said device has beenset, means for operating the switch by the turning movements of saidrod, an actuator for mo"- ing said rod axially to position in which saidrod will be held by said latch devipe and for turning said rod in onedirection when said latch device is released, and timing mechanismoperable to release said latch device after any selected periods orintervals of time.

8. A controlling device of the character described, comprising anelectric switch, a rod supported for axial and turning movesaid memberin both directions, a pivoted element, means for moving the pivot'edelement to different adjusted positions relative to the switch member,and a spring for operating said switch member from one to another ofsaidcontact members to close difl'erent circuits, each. of which includesthe wire which is inpermanent circuit with said switch member. 7

10. In a-controlling device of the'character described, an'electric'switch' comprising contact members, a pivoted. switch memberin permanent circuit with the electric cir-- cuit wire and being movableinto and out of contactwith the contact members, a pivoted,

element, means for moving said pivoted element to difi'erentadjustmentsrelative to the.

switch member, a spring for operating said switch member from one toanother of said contact. members to close difi'e'ren't circuits each ofwhich includes the wire which'is in permanent circuit with said switchmember,

and means whereby said pivoted element in one position thereof will holdsaid switch member out of contact with said contact members. I

11. A controlling device of the character described, comprising anelectric switch, a rod supported for axial and turning movements andbeing adjustable in one position to hold theswitch open,

in the different positions to which ,it is turned, timing mechanism,settableto release said latchv device after' any predetermined period orinterval of t me and preventing operation of said latch device until thetiming mechanism has been set, and an actuator for turning said rod inone direction and moving said rod to position to hold said switch'open.-

12. A controlling device of the character described, comprising anelectric switch, a rod supported for'axialand turning movements andarranged to turn in one direction and move axially in one direction toopen the switch, a latch device for holding the rod in the differentrotative positionsin which it is placed, and a spring for impartingaxial and turning movements to said rod.

13. A controlling device of the character describe electric switchmechanism nism, a

means'for operating the switch by the turningmovements ofsaid rod, alatch devide for holding the rod described, comprising a housingcomposed of a base 'portion'v anda front portion removably connectedwith the base portion; timing mechanism wholly supported; within thehousing by. one portion of the housing; a support removably mounted inthe other portion of the housing; electric switch. mechanism' mounted onsaid' support and means supported by the front portion of the housingfor controlling said switch mechanism by the timing mechanism.

14. A controlling device of the character described, comprising ahousing composed of a base portion and a front portion removablyconnected withthe base portion; timing mechanism wholly sup orted withinthe housing by one portion 0 the housing; a support removably mounted inthe other portion of the housing; electric switch mechanisnr mounted onsaid support; means supported by-that portion of the housingsupportingthe timlng mechanism for controlling said switch mechanism bythe timing mechanism; and means whereby the switch'mechanism'may beoperated manually inxthe absence of the timing mechanism.

15. A controlling device of the character of abase portion and a frontportion removably connected with the base portion; supported in the baseportion of the housing; timing mechanism supported by the front portionof the housing; and 'a device whereby the switch mechanism will becontrolled automatically by the timing mechanism and afi'ordin -meansfor manual operation of the switch mechanism in the absence of thetiming mechanism.

16; A controlling-device of the character described, comprising settableswitch mecha-.

for controlling the timing device switch mechanism, and means wherebythe timing device will prevent the setting of the switch mechanismbefore thetiming device is set for operation.

comprising a housing 7 composed 17. A controlling device-of thecharacter described, comprising an electric switch movable to manualdevice for moving the switch to closed position, a, timing devicesett-able in different, positions to represent difl'erent periods orintervals of time, and means whereby the timing device will cause theswitch to bemoved to open position after open and to -closed position, a

the expiration of a predetermined period of time, and will preventsetting of the switch in closed position before the timing mechanism isset for operation.

18. In a -controlling device of the character described, electric switchmechanism, means whereby said switch may be manually closed, a latchdevice for holding the switch closed, timing mechanism whose adjustmentis necessary before said switch may for setting the switch in-closedposition,

I closed position,

be latched in closed position, and means operable by the timingmechanism for releasing'the latch.

19. In a controlling devioeof the character described, an electric"switch device,

manual means for moving the switch to a latch for holding the switchclosed, and a timing device whose adjustment is necessary before theswitch may be latched in closed-position, operable to release said latchafter a predetermined in terval of time. 1

20.In a controlling device of the character described, the combinationwith an,

acter described, the combination with an for moving the a latch device atiming devi e whose adjustment is necessary before the-latch will holdsaid switch in closed position.

22. In a device of the character described,

electric, switch, manual means switch to closed. position, and

the combination I of a timing mechanism;

manual means for setting said timing mechanism for operation for aselected period of time; means for timing mechanism-at the end of. aselected period of time; EtSWltOh mechanism; manual means for settingsaid switch .mechanism; means for holding the switch mocha stoppingoperation of the nism in the position in which it is set; and meanscontrolled by said timing mechanism for operating said switch mechanismat the endof the selected period of time.

23. In a device ofthe character described, the combination of a switchmechanism; manual means for placing the switch mecha nism in an adjustedposition; an actuator for moving the switch mechanism from the adjustedposition; a device for holding the switch mechanism in the adjustedposition until released foroperation by the actuator; timing mechanismincluding an actuator therefor which is energized as an incident to thesetting of the timing mechanism for operation; manual means for settingthe timing mechanism for operation and. energizing said actuator; andmeans operated by the timingmechanism for releasing the switch holdingdevice.

24. In a device of the character described, the combination of aswitch-mechanism; a device for holding the switch mechanism in ianadjusted position; means for operating the switch mechanism when saidholding device is released; timing mechanism settable' for operation fora selected interval of time; means for operating the timing mechanismfrom any of its set positions and arranged to be energlzed as anincident to the setting of the timing mechanism for operation;

means for stopping operation of the timing mechanism at the end of theselected interval of time; and means operated by the timing mechanismfor releasing the holding device of the switch mechanism ,at the end ofsaid time interval.

LEWIS A. MAPEL.

